Taupo Again Hosts Successful Kiwi Duathlon National Champs

Chris Sanson and Rebecca Elliott (Wellington)
took out the elite titles at the .kiwi Duathlon National
Championships at the Taupo Motorsport Park today, coping
best with the blustery conditions. The day dawned cool and
overcast but thankfully the rain stayed away for the close
to 500 participants in the event that also host the .kiwi
National Schools titles.

Sanson went solo early on
and was never challenged in the 10k run, 40k bike and 5k
circuit, claiming national title honours with relative
ease.

“That wasn’t too bad, the bike was pretty
tough, but I had a good run so that was good. The wind was
mixing around a little, with the tailwind we were going up
the hills and it seemed like we had to climb with the wind
in front of us as well! It was pretty tough out there. The
plan was to get out in front and stay there, that was the
plan from the start. A couple of guys stayed with me for the
first couple of k and then I put the foot down a little and
got on with it. This is building up for the summer, this is
a great event for this time of the year, it is a great event
to clear the cobwebs and get ready for some racing in the
summer.”

Rebecca Elliott was racing at this level
for the first time and was not put off at all by the
conditions.

“It was good, pretty gusty in the wind
but coming from Wellington I think was an advantage for me
today, it was good, a good race. The cold wasn’t too bad,
a ten k run warms you up for the bike so I didn’t think it
was too bad at all. I would like to try a couple of Tri’s
over the summer in elite races, this is a good build up for
the Tri season for sure.”

Former international
cricketer and these days TV and radio personality Mark
Richardson was another to take part today. On a path that he
hopes will take him to the ITU Age Group World Championships
in Chicago in 2015, the man known as Rigor struggled with a
dodgy back, in particular off the bike.

“I started
with a stiff back, too much sitting in cars and at a desk.
You don’t feel it in the first ten k’s but then on the
bike, oh my god when I got off the bike I was in a world of
trouble, my back was cramping and stiff but it sort of
loosened up after a few k.

“The biking is coming
along, I have only been biking for about a year, my running
I am just trying to hold my fitness after running marathons
and the swimming, I am awful in the pool, that is not
getting any better. I thought this would be easier today
without a swim but if anything it was harder. The hill over
the back was not much fun but charging around the corners on
the motorsport circuit where it is nice and smooth, that is
a heck of a lot of fun. But I have to say, these are tough
events, a sprint two weeks ago and this one now, but they
are so much fun, I love it.”

There was great fun
and a serious edge too when the younger competitors took to
the race course, with titles on the line from U12 up in
schools categories, as well as fun events for beginner
athletes looking to dip their toes in the sport for the
first time.

Renowned Paralympic cyclist Fiona
Southorn turned to Duathlon for the first time, having done
some running during a winter off her bike training programme
and took home a national title in the PT4 Category.

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